Murder Under the Tuscan Sun: A gripping classic suspense novel in the tradition of Agatha Christie set in a remote Tuscan castle

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This novel would be an ideal summer read, not one for the beach or around the pool, but rather one to be read in the shade in a lush garden or park with a long cool drink. It's notable too that this scene is set shortly after the Second World War and the main storyline examines lives irrevocably affected by the First World War – and with the shadow of fascism and all the horrors to follow looming over everything. Too ‘old and fat’ to be any threat to the ‘ailing gentleman art dealer’, recovering from a bleed to the brain.

Desperate for her mother to notice her, she soon forms an attachment of sorts to Constance, who has warmed to the child’s intelligence and wit. Not quite the Murder expected in the title but a rich complex story with interesting characters not least the older woman Constance who following the death of her husband and daughter decides to take a job near Florence looking after William North a not so old invalid.Her debut, Dangerous Crossing, was a bestselling Richard and Judy Book Club pick and was followed by A Fatal Inheritance and Island of Secrets.

We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. To Constance’s surprise she is offered the role and plucking up her courage, she determines a change will be good for her and accepts. He is brusque and offhand with Connie and she feels she can’t do anything right but she persists in assisting him through keeping him company, reading to him, writing correspondence and administering medication as recommended by the visiting doctor. The tension in the castle really begins to pick up when Connie’s son arrives unexpectedly at the castle for a holiday, and he too notices that something strange is going on.

The first weeks are promising as Constance settles in, is accepted as being valuable to the family by Evelyn (William’s niece) and husband Roberto, and William’s condition starts to improve.

I could really sense Nora’s growing attachment to Connie, and I was glad that Connie was there to look out for Nora, whose character really shines in this book. The castle is deliciously creepy with noises in the night, ghosts and strange goings on along with a not so dippy spoilt Evelyn and her Fascist husband Roberto who seem intent on spending all of William's money. I raced through it in a couple of days and recommend it to lovers of atmospheric historical mysteries with beautiful settings. Evelyn is a strange character, brittle and moody whilst Roberto devotes himself to the fascist cause.The contrast between the increasingly unsettling events which occur here and the stunning location is beautifully realised throughout and I couldn't tear my eyes from the page. Evelyn’s eight year old daughter, who is awkward and neglected by her mother and Alina, the housekeeper who seems to have the weight of the world on her shoulders. The building's dark history and fevered present is the perfect location for a mystery redolent of the Golden Age. As the novel progresses your liking, and disliking, of the the individuals changes along with the subtle shifts as to who was causing Constance to feel she was losing her mind, whilst doing her best to protect those in her care.